Mine trap-door



(No Model.)

G. BONENBERGER. MINE TRAP DOOR.

No. 544,498. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

GEORGE BONENBERGER, OF EVANSVILLE, ASSIGNOR TO JAY H. KEYES, OF

' TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA. I

lVIINE TRAP-DOO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,498, dated August 13, 1895.

Application filed May 4, 1895. Serial No. 548,185. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE BONENBERGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evansville, in the county of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MineTrap-Doors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. Y

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in mine trap-doors, and to one of that class that when placed in a mine-entry is adapted to cut off and control air-currents through such entry without interfering with traffic through the entry asthe door is automatically opened on the approach of a car or cars toward it and automatically closed after such car has passed through it.

In'my present invention the door consists of a framework on which a flexible door or curtain, made preferably of canvas, is supported, and this is either rolled up or. unrolled as a car approaches or leaves it, the operation of the curtain being effected through suitable devices operated on by passing cars.

In the drawings, where the preferred form of construction is shown, and where like letters of reference refer to similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a door embodying 5 my improvements, the door being closed and its operating mechanism in position to be operated on the approach of a car from either direction and thereby open the door. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the door opened and its operating mechanism in position for the car passing through the door to close it.

In detail, A represents the framework of the door, which is set in the entry or room of a mine and across the track therein, B being a roller pivoted in brackets secured to its cross-piece.

O is a curtain or flexible door secured to the roller B, and both curtain and roller are on the side of the framework A from which 5: the air-current in the entry comes, the curtain overlapping the sides to the frame to secure perfect tightness and being preferably weighted by a stifiening strip or rod at the bottom.

D is a pulley secured to one end of the roller and at the side of the door-frame,E be ing another pulley secured in a bracket or to the same side of the door-frame. At suitable distance from each side of the door and at the side of the track are posts F, on which 6:: are mounted pulleys G.

H are posts set at a short distance from the first ones and nearer to the door, I being levers pivoted to the posts H and provided with arms J, which lie in line with and are adapted to be moved by the wheels of passing cars.

K is a continuous rope or wire which passes around the several pulleys mentioned,and, as shown in the drawings, is so arranged and connected to each of the levers I that on the movement of either of the levers by the wheels of a car in the direction of the doorthe several pulleys will turn and cause the door-curtain to roll up for the passage of the 7 5 car, and on the movement of either of the levers in a direction away from the door when the car has passed through it the curtain will unroll and the door be closed. It will thus be seen that the door is normally 8o closed and is only opened when a car is to pass through it, and after such car has operv ated the first lever on either side of the door such door remains open until the car has passed entirely through and operated the lever on the other side in adirection opposite from the first. The operating-levers are set at such distance on each side of the door as to allow the longest train to pass entirely through before the door is closed, and the 0 rope or wire for operating the door may be made to work on curves as well as a straight track.

The advantage of a flexible door is that it is cheap, fits the door-frame closely, thereby 5 making a tight partition, and being light requires but little power to operate it.

While the form shown is the preferableconstruction, modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention 1C0 or Without changing the results.

Having fully described my invention,what

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

In a minetrap door, a framework supported across the track in the entry of a mine, a roller mounted on the top thereof, a flexible curtain connected to such roller, a pulley device at each side of the door at a suitable distance, a pulley on the door frame and on the end of the roller, and a pivoted lever at each side of the door connected to a wire or cord which passes around the said pulleys, each of t such levers lying in the path of passing cars whereby the door curtain will be raised and lowered on the passage of a car through the entry, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE BONENBERGER.

Witnesses:

M. CoMMEsKY, H. KEYES. 

